Orlan

Today, I want to share with you an artist that I did research on in college for a class that was about the body and how it was represented throughout art history.  I will do my best to keep my opinions to myself as I present her work to you.  For those of you who know me personally probably know what my true opinion is on this sort of artwork.  Which I guess a lot of people could debate whether this is art at all.  I just want you to know what is out there in terms of art and how people choose to create it.  If you would like, you can leave your opinions in the comments below or talk to me directly.  I did a lot of research on this artist and know a bit about her work.  Also, I want to start this too by saying graphic images and content are ahead so please use caution in your reading in case you have a weak stomach.

Orlan,  She is what some might call an extreme performing artist.  She has taken her views on feminism, body modification, and performing art to the next level.  In the 1990's she hit the scene big by re-defining her image....literally by changing it through plastic surgery.  She wanted to take parts of famous artworks and combine them onto her own body.  While she was getting this done, she let you watch and donate to help pay for the process. "Each of Orlan's operations is designed to alter a specific feature. Supplying surgeons with computer- generated images of the nose of a famous, unattributed School of Fontainebleau sculpture of Diana, the mouth of Boucher's Europa, the forehead of Leonardo's Mona Lisa, the chin of Botticelli's Venus and the eyes of Gerome's Pysche as guides to her transformation," (source article 2)   Like many artists have chosen different surfaces to create work, Orlan has chosen her own body to do so by reconstructing it to create the ultimate, permanent work of art.

Orlan used her plastic surgeries to make a statement on feminism and the female form throughout art history by showing how men have created this idealistic image of women.  She wanted to transform herself into what men have created in artwork to show how different it is from the norm.  Like the Greek artist, Zeuxis, who took different parts of the body from multiple models to create the "ideal" woman, so did Orlan....literally not in a painting like Zeuxis did.  (source article 2).

Currently, Orlan works in digital prints and mixed media.  She is in her 60's and still practices art in Los Angeles, New York and France (where she is from).  She has a very post-modern view of the world of art and uses art to commentate on it.

Below are images of the paintings and artwork she has taken from to create her image.

Diane

Mona Lisa

Birth of Venus

The Rape of Europa

Orlan as the Bride of Frankstein

Orlan currently

I find myself thinking of Orlan everytime I see Lady Gaga.  Maybe because both kind of look alike and have used extreme public examples of their opinions on life.  The two articles listed below are the articles I used as references for this post.

Article 1

Article 2

I wanted to share Orlan with you so you can see what art is out there.  It is not just beautiful paintings and unique works of art but commentary on life and done in different ways that some might agree with or not, it is what is being done in the world of art.  Please share your comments below or you can discuss with me in person what you think of this artist.  Again, I might warn you that in the articles I have listed are more "R" rated content that I chose not to share in my blog.  Please proceed with caution.